Transverse joint for pavements



May 14, 1963 A. F. CRONE TRANSVERSE JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS Filed May 2. 1960 4 Sheets-Sh at 1 ATTORNEYS May 14, 1963 A. F. CRONE TRANSVERSE JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1960 @NRQNNEE.

INVENTOR W ATTORNEYS May 14, 1963 A. F. CRONE TRANSVERSE JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2, 1960 IN VENTOR %W%Z2/% ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,089,395 TRANSVERSE JOINT FOR PAVEMENTS Alfred F. Crone, Williamsville, N.Y., assignor t0 Acme Highway Products Corporation, Bulfalo, N.Y. Filed May 2, 1960, Ser. No. 26,008 2 Claims. (CI. 9417) This invention relates to joints for highways and other paved surfaces, and more particularly to such joints which are constructed to maintain surface alinement of adjacent pavement slabs and to permit relative movement of adjacent slabs caused by thermal expansion and contraction.

More specifically this invention relates to a sleeve type of load transfer device formed of two parts, one part to be located in one road slab having a projection extending into the adjacent slab and interlocked with the other part of the load transfer device which is to be located in the other slab when the pavement is completed, the two parts being preferably formed of castings.

It has been found that in transverse joints extending across a pavement it is of course very desirable that these joints are straight and extend across the pavement without being warped or curved. It has also been found that when these joints have the parts thereof welded together, the welding is very apt to result in warping or twisting of parts of the joint, such for example, as the center plate.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a pavement joint in which the various parts of the joint are assembled without welding. Also to provide a pavement joint in which the various parts to be secured to these parts are provided with joints which can be readily interlocked, thus facilitating the assembly of the joints.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a transverse pavement joint embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof showing the transverse joint arranged on a subgrade prior to the pouring of the concrete or other paving material.

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale on line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof, partly in section, on line 44, FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary, transverse sectional views thereof on lines 55 and 66, FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a part of a load transfer device.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 9 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of another part of the load transfer device.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation thereof.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are respectively transverse sections taken on lines 1212, 13-13 and 14-14, FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is an end view of the load transfer device shown in FIGS. 10 and 11..

y 'FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a spacer bar used in connect-ion with my improved transfer join construction.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing my transverse joint construction applied to an expansion joint between pavement slabs.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, top plan view thereof.

The pavement joint shown and embodying this invention is intended for use between two adjacent pavement slabs 14 and 15, FIG. 3, and includes a center plate 16 which extends crosswise of the pavement between the two pavement slabs. This plate is preferably provided with longitudinally extending, stiffening beads 17 and is formed to support a plurality of load transfer members, each of which comprises two parts 18 and 19 which are connected with each other to resist vertical movement of vertoially.

3,039,395 Patented May 14, 1963 one slab relatively to the other. To receive the load transfer members, the center plate is provided at intervals lengthwise thereof with suitable apertures 20 of approximately square or rectangular shape, FIGS. 5 and 8, through which parts of the load transfer members may extend. A portion of one of the parts of each load transfer device extends through an aperture 20 and preferably has a telescopic or overlapping connection with the other part of the load transfer device, in such a manner that the two parts when connected, will oppose vertical movement of one pavement slab relatively to the other.

In order to accomplish these results, the part 18 of each load transfer device includes a shaft or anchoring member 22 formed to extend horizontally into the paveslab 15 at approximately intermediate the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and this shaft terminates at one end thereof in an enlarged abutment portion 23 formed to seat against a face of the center plate 16. The part 18 of the load transfer device is provided with an extension or dowel 25 which is formed to extend through an aperture 20 in the center plate and to a distance beyond into the other slab 14. The other part 19' of the load transfer device is provided with a suitable cavity formed to telescopically receive the extension or dowel 25. In the particular construction shown by way of example, the extension or dowel 25 is of I-shaped cross section having two opposite, flat faces, and cavities or recesses 26 on opposite sides thereof. The part 19 has an open sided socket to receive the dowel 25, this socket comprising upper and lower walls 28 and 29 connected by an upright wall 30, FIGS. 3 and 4. The flat faces of the extension or dowel 25 fit against the walls 28 and 29'. The part 19 of the load transfer device opposite to the upright wall 30 is preferably open. By means of this construction it will be seen that the two parts '18 and 19 of the load transfer member will be held against vertical movement relatively to each other and will consequently also hold the two slabs 14 and 15 against moving out of alinement. The part 19 also has an extension 32 formed to extend into the pavement slab 14 and the end of this shaft or anchorcurely embed the part 19 in the pavement slab 14 in such a manner as to hold part 19 in fixed relation to this slab.

It is desirable to interlock the part 18 with the center plate 16 rather than to weld these parts together and for this purpose I have provided the part 18 at the portion thereof which is normally arranged at the center plate 16 with grooves 37, FIGS. 10 and 11. When the part 18 is inserted into the hole 20 of the center plate, it is positioned at an angle of approximately degrees from that which it occupies when the joint support is completed. When in this position the grooves 37 will be arranged at opposite sides of the hole 20 in the center plate, which is of greater dimension in the horizontal direction than Upon turning the part 18 through an angle of approximately 90 degrees, the upper and lower edges of the hole 20 will enter into the grooves 37 so that the part 18 of the load transfer device will then be securely held against movement away from the center plate. In order to assure that the part 18 will remain in this position during the assembly of the transverse joint, I also provide the abutment 23 of the transfer member .18 with a pair of oppositely extending projections or spurs 40 which, when the member 18 is turned through 90 degrees into its operative position, will be wedged against the reinforcing beads 17 of the center plate and thus ensure holding of the member 18 in correct relation to the center plate. The other part 19 of that transfer device may then be positioned over the projection or dowel 25 of the part 18 in such a manner that one of the concave 3 sides 26 of the dowel will be opposite to the open side of the part 19 between the walls 28 and 29.

It is necessary of course to hold the part 19 in correct relation to the dowel 25, and it is also necessary to cover the open side in the member 19, to prevent cement or other material from entering into the space between the walls 28, 29 and 30, which should be left free so that the dowel 25 can move back and forth in this space during expansion and contraction of the pavement slabs 14 and 15. I accomplish both purposes by providing a protecting and retaining cap 43 which may be formed of a sheet of relatively thin metal which is formed to extend across the open space between the walls 28 and 29 and to extend across the outer surfaces of these walls toward the upright wall 30. The ends of the strip 43 are provided with flanges 44 and 45 which are arranged to be bent over the ends of the walls 28 and 29 adjoining the upright wall 30. The walls 28 and 29 are preferably made to extend slightly beyond the upright wall 30, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, so that the flanges 44 and 45 may grip these extensions.

The walls 28, 29 and 30 of the part 19 terminate in a transverse wall 47, see particularly FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9. The cover strip 43 is provided with an indented portion 48 which extends into the Waist portion of the dowel 25, and is consequently held against lengthwise movement relatively to the part 19 by this end wall 47. The walls 28, 29 and 30 may also terminate adjacent to the center plate in a head 50 which limits the movement of the cover plate 43 in a direction toward the center plate. The cover plate will consequently be securely held in place on the part 19 of the load transfer device by the flanges 44 and 45, and will be held against movement lengthwise of the part 19 by the end wall 47 and bead 50. The indented portion 48 of the cover plate frictionally grips the extension or dowel 25 so as to hold the dowel part 19 in place relatively to the part 18. Consequently the load transfer device is securely fastened to the center plate by an interlocking construction which permits easy assembly, since it is merely necessary to insert the part 18 through the hole in the center plate and turn it through about 90 degrees, whereupon the part 19 may easily be placed into frictional engagement with the dowel 25.

Prior to the pouring of the concrete, the load transfer device must be held in correct position above the subgrade. I preferably provide for this purpose a support formed of a single piece of sheet metal forming a base which has a longitudinal raised portion or reinforcing rib 56 formed in the longitudinal center portion thereof and extending throughout the greater part of the length of the base. The base also has flanges 57 extending outwardly beyond the sides and end of the rib 56.

I also provide the base with two pairs of upwardly extending supporting arms 60 and 61 connected with the base. These arms are preferably formed integral with the base, for example by partly cutting out parts of the flanges 57 at opposite sides of the reinforcing bead 56 and bending the cutout portions upwardly to form the supporting legs 60 and 61. The upper ends of the legs 60 may then be suitably secured to the center plate by providing the center plate with a pair of slots 63 and the upper ends of the legs 60 and 61 are laterally bent to form seats 64 on which the lower edge of the center plate may rest, and with upwardly and laterally bent pants 65 which extend through the slots 63 and then upwardly along a face of the center plate. This construction forms a secure connection between the legs and the center plate and requires no welding.

The ends of the shafts or anchoring members are secured at their outer ends to a spacer bar which serves to hold the load transfer devices in correct relation to the center plate 16 and also to prevent the anchoring part 18 from turning and thus becoming released from the center plate. In the construction shown for this purpose the spacer bar is of angle shaped cross-section with one leg extending upwardly and the other leg substantially horizontal. This spacer bar as shown in FIG. 16 has slots 71 on the upright flange through which lips 72 on the ends of the shafts 22 extend. The shafts also have lips 73 above the lips 72 and which extend over the upper edge of the upright leg of the spacer bar. When these lips are arranged in this relation to the spacer bar, the ends of these lips are bent toward each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 17, whereupon the ends of the shafts 22 will be rigidly secured to the spacer bar and the anchoring part 18 is held against turning. The bending of parts of the anchoring member is readily possible since they are malleable castings.

The spacer bar is also supported in correct relation to the subgrade and for this purpose in the construction shown, the base 55 has two additional legs 75 formed from the flanges of this base and bent to extend upwardly for connection with the spacer bar, which, as shown in FIG. 16 has slots 77 formed in the horizontal leg. The upper ends of the legs 75 have offset portions 78 terminating in upwardly extending ends 80 which extend through the slots 77 and are then twisted as clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, thus forming a secure connection between these arms and the spacer bar.

In FIGS. 17 and '18 I have shown my improved construction applied to expansion joints in which a plate or panel of compressible material is arranged between the pavement slabs. In this construction a center plate 16 is provided which may be identical in construction with the center plate shown in the preceding figures. The compressible member 85 is provided with holes at intenvals lengthwise thereof somewhat larger than the holes 20 formed in the center plate and the part 18 of the load transfer device is interlocked with the center plate 16 in the same manner as heretofore described. When the part 19 of the load transfer device is applied to the dowel part 25, it does not telescope to the same extent as in the prior constructions because of the thickness of the compressible member 85. However, the sleeve part is held frictionally in engagement with the part 25 so that the two parts of the dowel are held in correct relation to each other and also concrete or other pavement material is excluded from the space between the end of the dowel part 25 and the end wall 47 of the part 19 of the load transfer device, so that when the pavement expands, the part 25 will be free to enter into the space between the walls of the cooperating dowel part 19.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of par-ts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A highway joint including a center plate adapted to be arranged between two pavement slabs and provided at intervals with holes, load transfer members each formed in two parts, one part extending in one direction from the center plate and the other part extending in the opposite direction therefrom, said one part having a portion thereof extending through one of said holes to the other side of said center plate, said one part having a portion thereof interlocking with said center plate at said hole when turned, said other part having a portion interfitting with said first part which extends to the other side of said center plate, said center plate having longitudinally extending reinforcing beads arranged above and below said holes, said first mentioned parts of said load transfer members having spurs extending outwardly therefrom into position interengaging with said heads when said parts are turned to interlock the same with said center plate, and which limits the extent to which said first mentioned part is passed through one of said holes.

2. A highway joint including a rigid center plate adapted to be arranged between two pavement slabs and provided at intervals with holes, load transfer members each formed in two parts, one part extending in one direction from the center plate and the other part extending in the opposite direction therefrom, said holes in said center plate being wider in one direction than in the other, and said first mentioned part having a portion of cross sectional shape of greater width in one direction than the narrow part of said hole and of lesser width than the other dimension of said hole, whereby said part when turned into one position can enter said hole, said first mentioned part having a transverse groove in the portion thereof of greater dimension than the width of said hole, whereby said first mentioned part after being inserted through said hole is turned through an angle to cause said groove to interlock with said center plate and hold said first mentioned part against movement relatively to said center plate, said first mentioned part of said load transfer member also having a dowel-like extension projecting beyond said center plate, said first mentioned part of said load transfer member also having an enlarged abutment portion adapted to engage with said center plate to limit the extent to which said part may be passed through a hole, the other of said parts having a frictional sliding connection with said dowel-like part, said other part of said load transfer member having a recess formed by upper and lower walls connected by a side wall, said walls being spaced and receiving said dowel-like extension and having the side opposite said side wall open, and a cover member of flexible material having its ends secured to said other part, means on said other part holding said cover member against endwise movement relatively thereto, said cover member having a part extending through the open side of said other part and frictionally engaging said dowel-like extension and yieldingly holding said parts of said load transfer member in operative relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 352,339 McCarron Nov. 9, 1886 1,136,087 Bayley Apr. 20, 1915 1,424,743 Smith Aug. 1, 1922 1,768,689 Huntington July 1, 1930 1,825,021 Strand Sept. 29, 1931 2,089,891 Greuli'ch Aug. 10, 1937 2,095,060 Geyer Oct. 5, 1937 2,110,738 Parker Mar. 8, 1938 2,116,697 Geyer May 10*, 1938 2,150,982 McFarland Mar. 21, 1939 2,181,623 Klein Nov. 28, 1939 2,227,614 Willard Jan. 7, 1941 2,269,703 Bagwill Ian. 13, 1942 2,482,836 Brickman et al Sept. 27, 1949 2,521,643 Mathers Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 371,147 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1932 

1. A HIGHWAY JOINT INCLUDING A CENTER PLATE ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED BETWEEN TWO PAVEMENT SLABS AND PROVIDED AT INTERVALS WITH HOLES, LOAD TRANSFER MEMBERS EACH FORMED IN TWO PARTS, ONE PART EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION FROM THE CENTER PLATE AND THE OTHER PART EXTENDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THEREFROM, SAID ONE PART HAVING A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID HOLES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID CENTER PLATE, SAID ONE PART HAVING A PORTION THEREOF INTERLOCKING WITH SAID CENTER PLATE AT SAID HOLE WHEN TURNED, SAID OTHER PART HAVING A PORTION INTERFITTING WITH SAID FIRST PART WHICH EXTENDS TO THE OTHER SIDE SAID CENTER PLATE, SAID CENTER PLATE HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING REINFORCING BEADS ARRANGED ABOVE AND BELOW SAID HOLES, SAID FIRST MENTIONED PARTS OF SAID LOAD TRANSFER MEMBERS HAVING SPURS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM INTO POSITION INTERENGAGING WITH SAID BEADS WHEN SAID PARTS ARE TURNED TO INTERLOCK THE SAME WITH SAID CENTER PLATE, AND WHICH LIMITS THE EXTENT TO WHICH SAID FIRST MENTIONED PART IS PASSED THROUGH ONE OF SAID HOLES. 